(ST. GEORGE, Utah) - The I-15 St. George Boulevard Interchange will be switched over from a traditional Diamond interchange to a Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) configuration beginning Saturday, November 16. Crews will close St. George Boulevard between the freeway on and off-ramps from Saturday, Nov 16 at 11:00 p.m. until Tuesday, Nov 19 at 6:00 a.m. to make the switch. Originally, the new interchange was scheduled to be open before Black Friday on November 29 to accommodate holiday shopping at area businesses. UDOT is pleased to open the interchange more than a week ahead of schedule.

UDOT Project Manager, Kim Manwill, stated “It is important to UDOT and the City of St. George to make sure that the construction of this project doesn’t adversely affect area businesses. We want to make sure that the economy in the area stays strong throughout the project duration. I think so far, we have met this goal.”

Making the switch to a DDI will require the closure St. George Boulevard between 1000 East and River Road. Right turns will still be permitted at each ramp. The northbound off-ramp is scheduled to close the nights of Saturday, November 16 from 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. and Sunday, November 17 from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., but will remain open during the day. There will be no east-west access on St. George Boulevard across the bridge throughout the duration of the closure. Motorists should use 100 South as an alternate east-west route. St. George Police Department will be present to assist motorists and protect the work zone.

“There are several DDI’s in operation in Utah and we are excited to have the first DDI in southern Utah. This new interchange type will keep traffic flowing and allow for future growth in St. George,” stated Manwill.

A DDI briefly swaps traffic to the opposite side of the road as it passes over the interstate which allows left turns on and off the freeway to be made without the need for a signal. This provides a more efficient signal operations which significantly reduces delay; increases the capacity at the existing overpass by removing the need for turn lanes; increases the capacity of turning movements to and from the ramps; substantially reduces the number of conflict points, which improves safety; and improves pedestrian safety.

During the two day closure, crews will place new signal poles, excavate existing concrete islands, install new traffic signs, install sidewalk barrier and curbing, pave the bridge, and paint new striping. When the interchange re-opens Tuesday morning, traffic will be in the new DDI configuration. Minor construction activities will continue in the project corridor and on I-15 through December 2013.

(ST. GEORGE, Utah) - The I-15 St. George Boulevard Interchange will be switched over from a traditional Diamond interchange to a Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) configuration beginning Saturday, November 16. Crews will close St. George Boulevard between the freeway on and off-ramps from Saturday, Nov 16 at 11:00 p.m. until Tuesday, Nov 19 at 6:00 a.m. to make the switch. Originally, the new interchange was scheduled to be open before Black Friday on November 29 to accommodate holiday shopping at area businesses. UDOT is pleased to open the interchange more than a week ahead of schedule.

UDOT Project Manager, Kim Manwill, stated “It is important to UDOT and the City of St. George to make sure that the construction of this project doesn’t adversely affect area businesses. We want to make sure that the economy in the area stays strong throughout the project duration. I think so far, we have met this goal.”

Making the switch to a DDI will require the closure St. George Boulevard between 1000 East and River Road. Right turns will still be permitted at each ramp. The northbound off-ramp is scheduled to close the nights of Saturday, November 16 from 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. and Sunday, November 17 from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., but will remain open during the day. There will be no east-west access on St. George Boulevard across the bridge throughout the duration of the closure. Motorists should use 100 South as an alternate east-west route. St. George Police Department will be present to assist motorists and protect the work zone.

“There are several DDI’s in operation in Utah and we are excited to have the first DDI in southern Utah. This new interchange type will keep traffic flowing and allow for future growth in St. George,” stated Manwill.

A DDI briefly swaps traffic to the opposite side of the road as it passes over the interstate which allows left turns on and off the freeway to be made without the need for a signal. This provides a more efficient signal operations which significantly reduces delay; increases the capacity at the existing overpass by removing the need for turn lanes; increases the capacity of turning movements to and from the ramps; substantially reduces the number of conflict points, which improves safety; and improves pedestrian safety.

During the two day closure, crews will place new signal poles, excavate existing concrete islands, install new traffic signs, install sidewalk barrier and curbing, pave the bridge, and paint new striping. When the interchange re-opens Tuesday morning, traffic will be in the new DDI configuration. Minor construction activities will continue in the project corridor and on I-15 through December 2013.